Ballast distributing and planing machine

Abstract

A ballast distributing and planing machine comprises an elongated machine frame supported on the track by undercarriages for mobility along the track in an operating direction, a ballast broom extending transversly across the track and mounted on the machine frame at a rear end thereof in the operating direction, and a ballast plow arrangement mounted on the machine frame. A ballast storage container is mounted on the machine frame and has at least one discharge opening enabling ballast stored in the container to be discharged onto the track, and a ballast discharge conveyor band is mounted immediately below each discharge opening and is arranged to close the opening, each conveyor band having a drive for moving the conveyor band in a conveying direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A machine for distributing and planing ballast supporting a railroad track comprising two rails fastened to ties, each rail having a gage side and a field side, which comprises (a) an elongated machine frame supported on the track by undercarriages for mobility along the track in an operating direction,   (b) a ballast broom extending transversely across the track and mounted on the machine frame at a rear end thereof in the operating direction,   (c) a ballast plow arrangement mounted on the machine frame,   (d) a ballast storage container mounted on the machine frame and having at least one discharge opening enabling ballast stored in the container to be discharged onto the track, and   (e) a ballast discharge conveyor band mounted immediately below each discharge opening and arranged to close the opening, each conveyor band having a drive for moving the conveyor band in a conveying direction.   
     
     
       2. The ballast distributing and planing machine of claim 1, wherein each conveyor band extends in the longitudinal direction of the elongated machine frame. 
     
     
       3. The ballast distributing and planing machine of claim 2, wherein the ballast storage container has four of said discharge openings and four of said ballast discharge conveyor bands mounted immediately below the discharge openings extend respectively along the gage and field sides of the two track rails, each conveyor band being pivotal about a vertical axis extending perpendicularly to the track, and further comprising a respective pivoting drive connected to each conveyor band. 
     
     
       4. The ballast distributing and planing machine of claim 3, wherein the vertical axes are substantially centered with respect to the respective ballast discharge openings wherebelow the pivotal conveyor bands are mounted. 
     
     
       5. The ballast distributing and planing machine of claim 2, wherein each conveyor band has substantially double the length of the discharge opening wherebelow it is mounted, measured in the longitudinal direction of the machine frame. 
     
     
       6. The ballast distributing and planing machine of claim 2, wherein each conveyor band has a ballast supporting surface facing the discharge opening wherebelow it is mounted, the ballast supporting surface having opposite sides extending in the longitudinal direction of the machine frame, and further comprising opposite ballast guide elements extending along the opposite sides of the ballast supporting conveyor band surface in the longitudinal direction of the machine frame, the ballast guide elements being arranged in V-formation to form a funnel leading from the discharge opening to the ballast supporting conveyor band surface and having upper edges extending parallel to the surface and above, and outwardly of, the discharge opening. 
     
     
       7. The ballast distributing and planing machine of claim 2, wherein each conveyor band has a discharge end, and further comprising a chute-like ballast distributing device arranged to receive ballast from the conveyor band discharge end, the ballast distributing device being pivotal about a horizontal axis extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the elongated machine frame, and a drive connected to the pivotal ballast distributing device for vertically adjusting the device between an operating and a raised position. 
     
     
       8. The ballast distributing and planing machine of claim 7, wherein the chute-like ballast distributing device comprises elastic wiper elements at a lower end of the device, the wiper elements extending vertically in the operating position of the pivotal ballast distributing device and defining a section whose forward end is open in the operating direction. 
     
     
       9. The ballast distributing and planing machine of claim 8, wherein the elastic wiper elements have free lower ends extending substantially to the ties in the operating position of the pivotal ballast distributing device. 
     
     
       10. The ballast distributing and planing machine of claim 7, further comprising a baffle plate arranged between the conveyor band discharge end and an upper end of the chute-like ballast distributing device, the baffle plate defining an angle with the plane defined by the conveyor band. 
     
     
       11. The ballast distributing and planing machine of claim 2, wherein the ballast storage container has one of said discharge openings per rail and two of said ballast discharge conveyor bands are mounted immediately below the discharge openings, each conveyor band having a discharge end, and further comprising a chute-like ballast distributing device arranged to receive ballast from the conveyor band discharge end, the ballast distributing device having discharge openings extending respectively along the gage and field sides of the two track rails. 
     
     
       12. The ballast distributing and planing machine of claim 1, wherein a conveyor extends along a bottom portion of the ballast storage container and has a discharge end, each discharge opening being arranged below the conveyor discharge end for receiving ballast therefrom. 
     
     
       13. The ballast distributing and planing machine of claim 1, wherein the ballast storage container has a single one of the discharge openings extending along a bottom portion of the container and a single one of the conveyor bands is arranged immediately below the single discharge opening to close the opening. 
     
     
       14. The ballast distributing and planing machine of claim 13, wherein the single conveyor band has a discharge end, and further comprising ballast distributing chutes arranged below the conveyor band discharge end for receiving ballast therefrom. 
     
     
       15. The ballast distributing and planing machine of claim 1, wherein the ballast storage container has a single one of the discharge openings extending along a bottom portion of the container and two of the conveyor bands are arranged immediately below the single discharge opening, the two conveyor bands extending substantially parallel to, and adjacent each other, the two conveyor bands defining a small gap therebetween, and further comprising a cover element extending over the gap whereby the two conveyor bands and the cover element close the opening. 
     
     
       16. The ballast distributing and planing machine of claim 1, wherein the ballast storage container has a single one of the discharge openings along a bottom portion of the container and at least one of the conveyor bands is arranged immediately below the single discharge opening to close the opening, each conveyor band having a discharge end, and further comprising a ballast discharge conveyor extending in the longitudinal direction of the elongated machine frame and arranged to receive ballast stored in the container and discharged at the conveyor band discharge end for unloading the storage container.